30. Enzo
Enzo
30
"We've been sold out," Giovanni announces, his voice heavy with what sounds like defeat.
His dark gaze shoots over to one of Cossi’s men tied up in the corner. “Cosa was behind this and thanks to this little rat I found prowling around our property, I have proof.”
I glance over at Albert. He’s pissed. His gaze is filled with a potent mixture of rage and disbelief as he stares at Giovanni.
“Just listen,” Giovanni says, taking a seat at the table, placing his phone down in front of them all before pressing play.
Senator Cosa's words ring out through the speaker, each syllable dripping with malice and betrayal. He outlines the plan and his instructions clearly. The recording ends, leaving an eerie silence ringing between us.
If we were looking for the proverbial smoking gun, this would be it.
"Well, fuck," Albert mutters under his breath.
I have so many questions, but I don’t want to ask them here. Not when I still suspect Giovanni.
I glance at Alec and he shakes his head.
“Later,” he mouths. I nod.
This new information just adds to the uncertainty that has been flooding my mind as I try to decipher what this means.
The evidence we’ve identified against Giovanni is undeniable. But is this recording of Cosa?
How does it all fit together? Is this all just a clever ploy to trap us in a corner?
All eyes are on Albert, waiting for some sort of reaction.
But of course, it's Nico who breaks the silence.
“What are we waiting for?” He says, slamming his fist on the table. “We fucking kill anyone who’s responsible. Starting with that asshole. I’m tired of waiting around for a golden invitation.
Let’s actually do something.”
Cossi’s man fights against his ropes in the corner, his pleading muffled by the duct tape over his mouth.
I shoot him a glance, knowing that my hand isn’t the only one itching to move to a gun.
I run a hand over my face, too frustrated to think straight. I need this all to be over and then I need Christina.
Last night she showed up to the house wearing a goddamn engagement ring and I almost lost my mind.
As soon as we were upstairs, I ripped it off her finger and shoved it in her sock drawer. If she has to wear that fucking thing around Albert, so be it, but my girl is not going to wear it around me or Nico.
The only ring I want on her finger is the one Nico and I will give her someday.
“How did you get this recording?” I ask Giovanni.
“I had a guy tap his phone,” he answers, quickly.
I nod and think about that. It’s not exactly a cutting-edge tactic but it’s not particularly suspicious either. We use all kinds of surveillance tools these days.
“Which guy?”
Giovanni shifts his weight from one foot to the other, a noticeable tell.
“Just one of my contacts,” he answers, evasively.
“Christina is not marrying into this family” Nico tells his father.
I perk up and turn towards him. The marriage was supposed to be a favor for a favor.
And Cosa, our supposed ally, has revealed himself to be a shadowy and spineless figure, lurking in the corners of our lives as a traitor.
Disgusting fuck.
Albert taps his fingers on the table and looks pensive. “If we cancel the engagement, he’ll know we’re onto him,” he says, finally. “Christina will continue as planned.”
My heart sinks again. Nico slams his fist into the table, rattling the glassware.
Albert glares at him.
“We’re wasting time, Father,” he grits out. “Let me think,” Albert says.
I let out a heavy sigh. In this moment, there are only a handful of people we can truly trust—if any at all—and even fewer organizations or families that would stand by our side. Taking out a sitting senator is a big deal.
If we do it, we’re going to need allies and a tight plan.
“Tell me again how you found this out?” Albert asks Giovanni.
As Giovanni launches into another monologue of half-truths, I pull out my phone and thumb over to Christina’s contact to text her.
What are you wearing, Princess?
Three dots appear and I smile to myself.
Clothes. *winky face*
I almost laugh out loud. She’s been cheeky lately and I love it.
Well, I hope you’re ready to see those clothes on my floor later…
“Are we boring you, Enzo?” Albert asks. I jerk my head up and flush slightly, shoving my phone in my pocket.
“No sir,” I answer, “I was just, uh, looking up different recording devices. Things we could maybe plant on Jimmy at school. That sort of thing.”
Albert looks at me like he wants to knock me upside the head, but Alec jumps in.
“Actually, bugging Jimmy might give us some more clues as to what their family dynamic is like. Maybe we’ll learn something good.”
Albert looks at us both and then sighs. “Fine. Do it. Just don’t get caught.”